Expansion joint with asphalt and copper seal



EXPANSION JOINT WITH ASPHALT AND COPPER SEAL Filed Sept. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 [I 6 {W W 1 ROBERT R. ROBERTSON Patented Sept. '12, 1939 UNITED STATES EXPANSION JOINT WITH ASPHALT AND COPPER SEAL Robert R. Robertson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Translode Joint Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 17, 1936, Serial No. 101,187

7 Claims.

I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the numerals of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

The present invention is directed to a concrete road expansion joint, including a load transmission base unit having supported thereon an improvednon-extruding asphalt core unit or a hollow metal core unit having supported on the top thereof an improved combination non-extruding asphalt seal embodying upper and lower sections separated by means of a longitudinally grooved copper seal united to the pre-molded asphalt seal sections and extending outwardly beyond the sides thereof. The expansion joint is so formed that the combination asphalt and copper seal forms a continuous top and end seal extending upwardly along both ends of the joint and continuously across the top for the width of the pavement specified.

It is an object of this invention to provide a load transmission expansion joint wherein the core unit is topped with an improved combination asphalt and copper seal. I

It is also an object of this invention to provide a road expansion joint wherein the core unit has mounted on the top thereof an improved seal in the form of pre-molded non-extruding asphalt seal sections having cemented therebetween a longitudinally ribbed or grooved copper seal plate, the side margins of which project beyond the sides of the asphalt seal sections.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a road expansion joint in the form ofan assembled unit, including side walls, a filler or core, and a combination asphalt and copper seal, all connected together to permit shipment in the assembled form to location.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a road expansion joint forming mechanism including a filler or core having the top and the ends thereof interfitting with a continuous combination asphalt and metal seal for obviating leakage through the top and through the ends of the expansion joint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a road expansion joint forming mechanism including a hollow, solid or an apertured filler or core formed to interfit with a combination top and end seal consisting of pre-molded non-extruding grooved and ribbed sections formed to said pre-molded seal sections and the metal seal plate adapted to be secured togetherand tied or fastened to the filler or core to provide an assembled joint-forming mechanism for embedding between concrete road slabs. 6

It is an important object of this invention to provide a concrete road expansion joint forming mechanism adapted to be placed transversely of a road upon the road sub-grade, said joint forming mechanism including in combination a 10 bottom seal in the form of aload transmission base or the like on which a filler or core is suppOrted with the ends and the top of the filler or core interfitting a continuous improved sealing unit extending along the ends and along the top 15 of the filler.or core and including pre-molded non-extruding grooved and ribbed sections disposed on opposite sides and interfitting with a grooved and ribbed metal sealingmember, the longitudinal margins of which project beyond the 20 Sides of the pre-molded strips and formed for anchoring the metal seal member in opposite concrete road slabs, between which the expansion joint forming mechanisms are embedded for the formation of the road expansion joint.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings. J

The invention (in its preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a road expansionjoint forming mechanism embodying the principles of this invention and having parts broken away and omitted to disclose the construction of the filler or core unit.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1, showing the load transmission expansion joint with the improved asphalt and metal seal embedded between concrete road slabs.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal detail section taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 1, showing the end seal for the joint.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the combination asphalt and metal seal.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken. through an expansion joint mechanism embedded between concrete road slabs and disclosing a modified form of hollow filler or core having engaged thereon a modified form of combination asphalt and metal seal.

As shown on the drawings:

Illustrated in Figure 2 is a vertical sectional is secured to the top and the ends of the core view of an improved road expansion joint forming mechanism which is embedded between concrete road slabs I which are supported upon the road sub-grade 2 in the regular manner.

In the preferred form of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the expansion joint is of the load transmission type including a load transmission base unit which is supported on the sub-grade and serves as a load transmitting medium between the adjacent slabs of the concrete road. In the present showing, the base unit comprises an elongated base member consisting of a solid base plate 9 constructed oi sheet metal or other suitable material. The longitudinal marins of the base plate 3 are bent upwardly and then inwardly toward one another to form oppositely positioned guide channels 4, which pro vide oppositely positioned guide chambers in the base unit. The margins of the top plates of the guide channels 4 are bent upwardly and are cut away to provide spaced upwardly projecting retaining flanges 5. The retaining flanges 9 on opposite sides of the base unit are staggered with respect to one another. Notches are provided between the retaining flanges on each side of the base unit to permit load transmitting anchor shoes or holders to be seated therein in proper spaced relation for the support of a core unit hereinafter more fully described.

The load transmitting mechanism associated with the base unit consists of a plurality-of anchor shoes or holders which are movably or shiftably engaged in the base section and are arranged longitudinally in ofiset or staggered relation with respect to one another; The anchor shoes or holders are of substantially identical construction and are arranged with the adjacent shoes reversed with respect to one another, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Each of the anchor shoes is constructed of metal and comprises an angle bar including a base flange 6 and an upright flange or web I integral with the base flange. Struck outwardly from the margins of each of the flanges or webs I are anchoring blades or wings 8 leaving the inner sides of the upright flanges or webs flat.

Supported on the base flanges 6 of the anchor shoes between the upright flanges or webs I is a premolded plastic filler or core board 9 B? structed of asphalt or other suitable material having rows of openings l9 extending through the core board. Positioned on opposite sides of the apertured filler or core board 9 to close the openings iii are metal stiflener plates H, the lower margins of which are positioned between the filler or core board 9 and the upright flanges 1 of the load transmission shoes. The upper margins of the stiffener plates l l are bent outwardly and then upwardly to provide angle strips l2. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the upper margins of the apertured core board 9 project upwardly into the receiving channel formed by the two side angle strips I 2 of the stiflener plates ll.

Seated in the continuous channel provided at both ends and across the top of the flller or core is an improved combination asphalt and copper seal unit which, as illustrated in Figure 1, extends from the base plate 9 at one side of the road, upwardly around the corner of the joint mechanism, and then continues across the top or the flller or core to the opposite side of the road and down along the opposite end to the base plate 9. The continuous combination seal unit board 9 and the stiflener plate II by means of wires or the like, so that the flller or core, together withthe stiflener plate and the continuous seal, may be assembled and secured together as an expansion joint forming unit at the place of manufacture and then shipped to location ready to be installed in a concrete construction supported in a load transmission base unit, as illustrated in Figure 2, or, if desired, the expansion Joint forming mechanism may be supported upon any other suitable type of base or directly upon the sub-grade.

The improved combination asphalt and metal seal, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, comprises a pre-molded bottom plastic strip l3 constructed of asphalt or other suitable material. The bottom of the lower seal strip i3 is provided with a centrally disposed groove or channel II to permit the strip ii to be seated over the ends and the top of the filler or core board 9. The sides of the seal strip II are inclined and, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, seat in the angle members I! forming parts of the side stifiener plates H. The top of the inner or lower seal strip I9 is formed with two spaced parallel beads or ribs II which extend throughout the entire length of the sealstrip l9. Formed inthe top of the strip [9 between the beads or ribs I5 is a top groove or channel I6. Seated upon the inner or lower sealing strip l9 and interfltting therewith is a metal seal strip which is constructed of copper or other suitable material. The metal seal strip consists of, a pair of side plates l1 disposed on opposite sides and integral with a center portion which is formed to provide two spaced parallel beads or ribs "on the upper side connected by a centrally disposed downwardly projecting metal rib or bead l9.

The downwardly projecting metal rib l9 seats in the groove it of the lower asphalt seal strip l9 while the parallel ribs or beads l8 seat over the ribs l5 of said lower asphalt seal strip l9. As shown in Figure 4, the metal side plates i1 project beyond the sides of the lower asphalt seal strip l9 and have the end margins thereof curled at 20 to form anchoring rims or beads for anchoring the side margins of the copper seal strip in the adjacent concrete road slabs I, as illustrated in Figure 2. The middle portion of the lower surface of the copper seal strip I1 is secured to the lower asphalt seal strip I9 by cement or any other suitable material. Cemented or otherwise secured to the outer or top face of the copper seal strip is an upper or outer premolded plastic seal strip 2| which is also formed out of asphalt or any other suitable material. The bottom surface of the upper seal strip 2| is provided with two spaced parallel grooves 22 separated by a downwardly projecting middle bead or rib 29. The rib 29 seats in the channel or middle rib ll of the copper seal strip while the grooves 22 seat over the ribs i9 of the metal seal strip. The outer asphalt seal strip 2| is of substantially the same thickness as the filler board 9, and the lower or inner portion of the'asphalt strip II is widened by means of the two oppositely positioned side extensions 24 to form a base portion of substantially the same width as the lower or inner asphalt seal strip I! which is wider than the flller or core portion of the expansion joint forming mechanism. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, it will be seen that the combination asphalt and copper seal is provided with a wide portion on opposite sides of the copper seal strip, so that a continuous seal is provided at both ends and across the top of the filler or core portions of the expansion joint forming mechanism.

With the filler or core board, the stiflener plates, and the combination'asphalt and copper seal assembled and connected together as a unit, said unit is adapted to be engaged between the load transmission angle members or holders 8-1 of the load transmission base. Before the pouring of the concrete to form the concrete slabs I, any suitable type of edging bar or strip may be engaged upon the top of the outer asphalt seal strip 2|. The concrete is now adapted to be poured on opposite sides of the expansion joint forming mechanism to completely embed the load transmission base,'the core board, the side stifiener plates, and the combination asphalt and copper sea], as well as the removable edging member. After the concrete has set or cured a desired amount, the edging member is removed and the upper edges of the concrete road slabs i are edged, as illustrated in Figure 2, leaving a groove between the concrete slabs and to the outside of the outer asphalt seal strips 2| for the reception of a plastic filler, such as tar or the like.

The improved combination seal of this invention is of the continuous type and, as illustrated in Figure 1, extends from the top side of one end of the base plate 3 upwardly along one end of the filler or core and across the top and down the opposite side so that when the expansion joint is completed, a continuous seal is provided along both ends and across the top of the joint.

The improved seal is materially wider than the width of the filler or core, and is adapted to be transversely adjusted with the expansion and contraction of the road'slabs I, due to temperature changes. With the side plates Il forming a part of the copper seal anchored in the adjacent road slabs, it will be noted that on contraction of the road slabs I, the width of the copper seal may be increased due to the corrugated or ribbed construction of the middle portion thereof which permits widening of the copper seal strip and which also permits narrowing of the width of the metal seal strip upon expansion of the road slabs. Variations in width of the plastic seal strip are, of course, also permitted due to the fact that the inner seal strip l3 and the outer seal strip 2| are constructed of a plastic material, such as asphalt.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of road .expansion joint forming mechanism for embedding between concrete road slabs I. In the modiiied form of expansion joint forming mechanism, a load transmission base may be used and, as illustrated, is like the load transmission base described in connection with the form of device lllustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. The modification forms part of the combination asphalt and metal seal in addition to a hollow filler or core mechanism. The modified form of filler or core mechanism comprises a channel cross-sectioned filler or core constructed of sheet metal bent into form to provide two side plates 25 having the lower margins thereof integrally connected by means of a bight portion or rounded bottom 26.

center of the road. The longitudinal curvature of the bottom of the hollow metal filler or core is shaped to coniorm to the curvature of the road sub-grade.

. Seated upon the top and extending into the ends or the open hollow metal filler or core unit 2526 is a combination asphalt and copper seal which is of continuous form and comprises lower and outer asphalt seal strips cemented on opposite sides and interfltting with a copper seal provided with extensions which project beyond the sides of the asphalt members of the combination seal. In the modified form of the combination seal the copper seal strip and the outer asphalt seal strip are identical in construction to the copper seal strip and the outer asphalt seal strip illustrated inFigure 2 of the drawings. Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate the parts of similar construction. The modification of the combination asphalt and copper seal lies in the inner or lower asphalt seal strip which comprises a continuous pre-molded asphalt head 21 having integrally formed on the bottom thereof a narrower flange or rib 28 of a width to permit the same to project into the open ends and the top of the hollow metal filler or core unit 25-26.

The operation or the modified form of expansion joint forming mechanism illustrated in Figure 5 is substantially the same as that described in connection with the form of joint forming mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an expansion joint forming mechanism for embedding between concrete sections of a road, the combination with an expansion joint base; of a pre-formed core supported thereon, and a combination plastic and metal seal contacting the expansion joint base and engaged around the ends and over the top of said core, said seal comprising a metal seal strip having a corrugated portion, said metal seal strip having anchoring means formed thereon to be embedded in the concrete sections permitting widening of the metal seal strip when the concrete sections contract, and pre-molded asphalt seal strips ribbed and grooved to interfit the corrugated portion of the metal seal strip and having enlarged portions wider than the core and projecting into recesses in the concrete sections.

2. In an expansion joint forming mechanism for embedding between concrete road sections,

the combination with an expansion joint base, of a pre-formed core supported thereon, and a combination plastic and metal seal unit interfitting the ends and the top or the core, said seal comprising pre-molded grooved and ribbed plastic seal strips wider than the core and separated by a grooved and ribbed metal seal strip projecting beyond the sides of the plastic seal strips and having anchoring means formed thereon for anchoring the margins of the metal seal strip in the concrete road sections.

3. In an expansion joint forming mechanism including a preformed core, the combination of a seal for the ends and the top of said core, said seal including a pre-formed longitudinally corrugated metal seal interfltting and separating pre- 7 molded plastic seal members each having grooved tapered portions wider than the core.

4. An expansion joint seal mechanism comprising a pre-molded corrugated plastic inner seal' strip, a pre-molded corrugated outer seal strip, a grooved rib portion formed thereon, and a corrugated metal seal strip disposed between and interfitting with the inner and outer plastic seal strips both of which are wider than the expansion joint.

5. An expansion joint seal mechanism comprising a pro-molded corrugated plastic inner seal strip, a rib portion formed longitudinally thereon,

6. An expansion joint seal mechanism comprising pre-molded asphalt seal strips including wide tapered portions longitudinally grooved and ribbed to interilt one another and adjacently dis posed to one another to form an enlarged intermediate section when the strips are assembled to form the seal mechanism.

'7. An expansion joint seal mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely positioned grooved and ribbed pre-molded plastic seal strips including enlarged beveled portions wider than the joint, a grooved and ribbed intermediate metal seal strip separating the enlarged portions of the plastic seal strips and rigidly secured thereto, said intermediate metal seal strip extending beyond the sides of the enlarged portions 01' the plastic seal strips and having the longitudinal margins thereof rolled to form anchoring beads,

ROBERT R. ROBERTSON. 

